Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: October 20, 1997
Phone: 509-943-OWLS
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com

Birds reported:

Common Yellowthroat
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Bonaparte's Gull
Cassin's Finch
Great Egret
Black-bellied Plover
Surf Scoter
Red-shouldered Hawk
Merlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Pacific Loon
Sandhill Crane
Dunlin
Pectoral Sandpiper

-transcript

This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for October 20,
1997. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.

To skip the message, push the star button on your phone and give your name,
phone number, and sightings after the tone.

On October 9, a rather late COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was in Groves Park in
Richland. Also seen on that day was a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, while on the
following day, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW appeared (Bob Woodley)

Also on October 10, Bill and Nancy LaFramboise found a immature BONAPARTE'S
GULL at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge and on the following day they
discovered 3 CASSIN'S FINCHES at the Vernita Rest Stop.

On the Yakima Delta on October 12 were 1 GREAT EGRET, and 5 SURF SCOTERS.
While on the Walla Walla Delta on October 12, Mike Denny reported that the
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK had reappeared as well as a MERLIN and 3 late STILT
SANDPIPERS.

The GREAT EGRET remained on the Yakima Delta on October 13. Also seen there
were 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

Nancy LaFramboise and I observed a PACIFIC LOON in the Columbia River off
Groves Park on October 14 as well as 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL. An ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLER was found in the park.

Madeleine Brown reported 2 flocks of SANDHILL CRANE over the Richland
Airport on October 19.

Also on the 18th, Dennis Rockwell found 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at McNary Dam,
and 138 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a single DUNLIN, and 15 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS
on the Walla Walla Delta.

I (Bob Woodley) found a lone SURF SCOTER on the Yakima Delta on October 19
as well as LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, COMMON SNIPE, BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a
lone BARN SWALLOW.

But today on the Yakima Delta, in addition to 90 dowitchers, were both
yellowlegs, a lone DUNLIN, and 43 BONAPARTE'S GULLS.

This seems to be the year of the gull. Considering all of the Sabine's and
Bonaparte's Gulls seen this fall, what will be next?

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com